14th October, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Bayelsa state Government has concluded plans to give the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who died on Saturday a state burial.
In actualise that, Governor Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday announced the setting up of a committee to plan for the ex-Governor’s burial rites.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Dickson constituted the committee at an enlarged emergency State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor promised that Alamieyeseigha will be given a state burial.
The Committee has the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (retd), as the Chairman.
Other members include: the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kombowei Benson (Vice Chairman) and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Alison-Oguru (Secretary).
The committee also has such persons as Senator Foster Ogola; member of the House of Representatives, Henry Ofongo; Commissioners of Information and Orientation; Health; Works and Infrastructure and Culture and Ijaw National Affairs.
The list also include: the Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa and the Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor.
Others are the State Chairman, Secretary, Woman and Youth Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representatives of the Alamieyeseigha family, the Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Youth Council, Chief Thompson Okorotie, Prof. Steve Azaiki, the Chief Historian and Archivist of the state.
Dickson, who had earlier declared a seven-day state mourning for the late Alamieyeseigha, enjoined Bayelsans to come together to give him a befitting burial, adding that these are trying times for the state and the immediate family.
He pointed out that Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation have lost a major leader and pillar, stressing that the vacuum created by his departure will be difficult to fill, as he laid a solid foundation for the development of our state.
Governor Dickson, who paid a condolence visit to the family at Opolo and Port Harcourt residences, noted that Bayelsans are proud of his life and the legacies he left behind.
He said: “The government will stand shoulder to shoulder with the family to give him a heroic burial. The burden he has left behind is heavy but we can see the unity of purpose by the family and the people.
“We’ve lost the greatest, biggest supporter and leader, as only God can comfort us. Alamieyeseigha spoke up when necessary and stood up for the Ijaw cause. It’s only God who can comfort his family.
“We are grieving, but we owe him a befitting burial. It is a painful incident and difficult time for the family, the state and Ijaw nation. He was a leader to all of us and we are all going to miss him.”
In his welcome remarks, a member of the family and Commissioner of Transport, Akpoebidei Alamieyeseigha lauded Governor Dickson for the visit, stressing that at this moment of grief, the family needs the prayers of all Bayelsans.
The Governor, who was accompanied by his wife Rachael, Speaker and the leadership of the State House of Assembly, some members of the State Executive Council, and other top government functionaries, later visited the wife of the deceased former Governor, Mrs. Margret Alamieyeseigha at his William Jumbo Street, Old GRA residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Former First Lady of the Country, Dame Patience Jonathan also paid a condolence visit to the Alamieyeseigha family in Port Harcourt.